The aim of this study was to investigate the role of energy cost in locomotion, specifically the rate of perceived exertion and movement variability in gait transition for eight race walkers (RW) and seven nonrace walkers (NRW). We hypothesized that a group of correlated variables could serve as combined triggers. Participants performed a preferred transition speed (PTS) test, exhibiting a higher PTS for RW (10.35±0.28 km/hr) than for NRW (7.07±0.69 km/hr), because RW engaged in race walking before switching to running. None of the variables increased before transition and dropped in PTS, which challenged the hypothesis of a unique transition variable in gait transitions. Principal component analysis showed that combined hip angle variability and rate of perceived exertion could determine gait transitions in elite RW and NRW. Thus, human gait transition may be triggered by a pool of determinant variables, rather than by a single factor.
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